CODE OF CONDUCT AND ETHICAL STANDARDS

OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND
NATLTRAL RESOURCES (DENR)

,/,,

WHEREAS, Section 1, Article XI of the 1987 Philippine Cons ti t u lion provides

Iliat "Public office is a public trust. Public officers and employees niust at all times be
accountable to tlie people, serve then1 witli utniost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and
efficiency, act wilh patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives";
WHEREAS, Seclion 7, Chapter 11, Book TV of Executive Order No. 292, ollierwise
ltnown as tlie "Administrative Code of 1987" enipowers Ilie Secrelary lo prornt~lgdlc.
ndlninistrative issuances necessary for the efficient adniinistration of the DENR;
WHEREAS, Section 13 of Republic Act No. 6713, otherwise known as the "Code
of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Eniployees" provides tlial
nothing in said Act shall be construed to derogate from any law, or any regulation
. . stringent standards for ils
prescribed by any body or agency, which provides for niore
officials and employees;
WHEREAS, the Cabinet in coordination witli tlie Presidenl-ial An ti-Graft
Conimission (PAGC) adopted a national anti-corruption framework known 'is Integrity
Development Action Plan (IDAP) on 17 December 2004;
WIJGREAS, on 'I5 April 2005, tlie DENR submitted ils agency-specific IDA P
coniniitnienls to the I'AGC;
WHEREAS, one of the IIENR's IDAP coniniitnients is the forniulalion of Ilie
Code of Conducl and Elliical Standards;
WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 9485, otherwise known as the "Anti-Red Tape Act
of 2007" provides that the State shall maintain honesty and responsihility aniong its
public officials and employees. It shall take appropriate nmeasures 1-0 promote
lransparency in each agency with regard to Ilie manner of lransacling will1 Ilie public,
that will
which sliall encompass a program for the adoption of simplified proced~~l.es
reduce red tape and expedite transaction in government; and
NOW, TiiEREFORE, tlie DENR lierchy pro111u lgdt ~ Iliis
s Code ol' Condt~ct'ind
lllliical Standards, to wit:

GENERAT, PRO\'TSTONS
Section 1. Title. This Code shall he known as tlie "Code ol Conducl anti
Elliical Slandards of the Department of Environnient and Nail~ralReso~~rces".
Section 2.
Objectives. The following are the objectives of Iliis Code of Conduct
and Ethical Standards:

a. To serve as a tool to attain the DENR vision, mission and the core
values;

b. To provide eniployees with g l ~ i d a n c ein ethically a ~ i i h i g ~ ~sit~ratiolis

ous
in tlie performance of their duties and responsibilities;

c. To sharpen tlie DENR criteria and standards for p~lblic service

accountability and good governance;
d. To serve as guidepost in clarifying desirable and ~ ~ n d e s i r a b l e
governance;
e. To provide protect-ion for employees against arbitrary or unethical
behavior of superior officials;
f. To develop and maintain pliblic trust, transparency and integrity in
the perforniance of official d ilties and functions;
and standards of excellence
g. To help proniote ~~rofessionalisni
service;

ill

~whlic

11. To impress upon eniployees tlie standards of beIiciviol. required of

them in the performance of their duties; and
i. To provide a detailed set of rules and guidelines for all officials and
eniployees to meet the highest standard of integrity in pilblic service.
Section 3.

DENR Vision a n d Mission.

VISION: A nation enjoying and sustaining its natural resources and a clean and
IieaILhy environnient.
MISSTON: Tlie DENR shall be the driving force in the p ~ ~ r s ~ofl i sustainal,le
l
development, enabling stakeholders' participation in tlie protection, conservation and
management of the environnient and natural resources for tlie present and future
generations.
Section 4.
Core Values. Towards the attainment of the DENR Vision a n d
Mission, the following Core Values sliall be uplield:

a. The environnient and natural resources a r e critical to tlie well-being of

Filipinos a n d the development of the country, and must therefore Lw
governed with a deep sense of responsibility a n d accountability.
b. A s conservator and nianager of tlie e n v i r o ~ i ~ i i e nand
t n a t ~ ~ r aresources,
l
llie
DENR sliall fully observe integrity, accountability arid transparency in ils
programs and projects.
c. Tlie DENR shall ensure effective and efficient delivery of its services.
d . DENR officials and employees shall lead simple and modest lives, observe

low carbon lifestyles, and cultivate sincere appreciation for natural

ecosystems appropriate for stewards of the country's environnient and
natural resources.
e. DENR officials and employees shall observe professionalisni and
organizational discipline pursuant to laws and regulations a n d this Code.

A.

Where the Onlbudsman exercises jurisdiction over the case by

requiring the respondent to submit his Answer/Counter-Affidavit
or Comment, then the DENR shall dismiss the case filed with it,
without prejudice to any directive of the Office of the Ombudsman
pursuant to Republic Act No. 6770, otherwise known as the
"Ombudsman Act?, such as referral or indorsement.

B.

Where the Ombudsman has not yet required the respondent to

submit his or her Answer/Counter-affidavit or Comment, then the
DENR shall hold the case in abeyance, until the Ombudsman acts
on the case, after wl~icllthe case will be dismissed, unless the case
is in~mediatelydisniissible wilhou t investigation, in accordance
with Rule 4.A. 1 above.

4.3.

Cases that maybe subjected to Alternative Dispute Resolution

Pursuant to Executive Order No. 523 and Republic Act No. 9285,
those cases appropriate for Alternative Dispute Resolution shall be
subjected to such process. Such cases are the following:
A.
Cases arising from a personal transaction between
complainant and respondent such as agreements and contracts
where a dispute or disagreement arose; and
B.
Those arising from personal quarrels and the Like, and there
are no allegations involving graft and corrupt practices, grave
misconduct or gross negligence in the perfornlance of official
functions.
4.4. Grievance Machinery. Work related issues or complaints giving
rise Lo employee dissatisfaction shall be addressed through the grievance
machinery. These cases or issues shall not include the following:
disciplinary cases, sexual harassment cases, union related issues and
concern, and complaint relative to the Performance Evaluation System.

GIVING AND RECEIVING OF GIFTS. The DENR hereby adopts

Rule 5.
the following gifts policy for all officials and employees.
No official or employee shall receive any gift in consideration of improper
exercise of official functions. Provided that any gift received in the amount of more than
Php 5,000.00 except for the DENR as an institution shall be presumed to have been
given and received in consideration of improper exercise of official functions.
Entertainment, travels whether local or abroad, hotel accommodation, dinners and the
like shall be considered gifts. However, this rule shall not apply to relatives within the
third degree of consanguinity or affinity. Violation of this Rule shall be punished in
accordance with existing and applicable laws, rules and regulations.

Rule 6.
PROHIBlTION ON NEPOTISM. The DENR shall strictly prohibit
Nepotism which is the appointment made in favor of a relative of the appointing or
recommending authority, or of the Chief of Office, or of the person exercising
immediate supervision over the appointee. The prohibition shall apply to relatives and
members of the family within the 3rd civil degree either of consanguinity or affinity,
except to persons employed in a confidential capacity.